She had quite a debate with herself as to whether it would be
consistent with her dignity to accept Perez' assurance that she would
not be annoyed, and go out to walk. Without fully determining the
question, she concluded to go anyway, and a beginning having been thus
made, she thereafter resumed her old habit of long daily walks, to the
rapid improvement of her health and spirits. For some days she did not
chance to meet Perez at all, and it annoyed the high-spirited girl to
find that she kept thinking of him, and wondering where she would meet
him, and what he would say or do, and how she ought to appear. And yet
it was perfectly natural that such should be the case. Thanks to his
persecution, he had preoccupied her mind with his personality for so
long a time that it was impossible the new phase of her relations
toward him should not strongly affect her fancy. The first time they
actually did meet, she found herself quite agitated. Her heart beat
oddly when she saw him coming, and if possible she would have turned
aside to avoid him. But he merely bowed and passed on with a word of
greeting. After that he met her oftener, but never presumed to stop--
or say more than "Good morning," or "Good afternoon," the result of
which was that, after having at first welcomed this formality as a
relief, after awhile she came to think it a little overstrained.
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